Tim Pernetti Resigns as Rutgers Athletic Director

PISCATAWAY, N.J. (AP) -- Tim Pernetti has resigned as Rutgers athletic director, two days after the basketball coach he hired was dismissed for abusive behavior during practices -- actions that prompted nationwide outrage once a video went public.

In a letter of resignation sent to university president Robert Barchi on Friday, Pernetti said he hoped that his tenure at Rutgers "will not be judged by this one incident."

Pernetti said after seeing video of Rice pushing, shoving and throwing balls at players his "first instincts ... was to fire him immediately." However, he said the consensus at the time was "university policy would not justify dismissal."

The video was broadcast Tuesday on ESPN. It showed numerous clips of Rice at practice during his time at Rutgers, firing basketballs at players, grabbing them by their jerseys and yelling obscenities in addition to the slurs.

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